The Hitman and His Consort

XX - Extraction

Third Person P.O.V: - - -

The following events happened in a flash. Valentin, known for being unhinged as one of his most distinct and evident traits, makes it seem that his confidence is some extent of his disregard for life, whether it’s his or not. He floored the gas pedal, forcing the engine to work itself to catch up to his targets who on the other end knew that they were being chased.

Inka’s whole body was tense, her eyes snapped wide, she couldn’t even form a frown, a vice grip on the handle on the car’s ceiling to the point the veins on her forearms were popping out. She looked around the car and saw a tied-up, unconscious body in the backseat.

‘What the f*ck—‘ was what she thought until a sharp swerve shook her whole body,

Valentin swerved the car in a manner that reminded Inka of those arcade games, sudden, disorienting, and shouldn’t be done in real life when death is one of the possible, in this situation, increasingly probable options for them but that didn’t stop him, of course.

The distance between the cars shortened, naturally, and it would be soon before authorities get a gist of this and call it ‘illegal racing’ when in fact it’s a hunt. The engine roared loud that it caught looks from the passing afterimages of the bystanders.

“Valya, what are you—”

“Hold on,”

“I’M f*****g TRYING-!”

Inka started to see her life flash before her eyes when Valentin managed to finally overtake the cars he’s chasing, a momentary glance between him and the other drivers managed to pull a sinister smile from him as things seemed to move in slow motion, they didn’t know but that only meant the tip of the iceberg as he, without missing a beat, swerved sharply causing his car to drift and skid to the middle of the road.

The sound of squeaking breaks along with Inka’s shout lasted a few seconds until Valentin’s car stopped between the two lines facing sideways, blocking the road effectively, thus forcing the other cars to stop in their tracks. Not even a second after that, Valentin ran out of the car and went to one of the cars while Inka began to catch her breath.

“Go to the other car, you drive,” he said to her as he left.

She couldn’t even respond before he left, shaking her head, she began tapping her body to make sure it was complete and present from her feet to her afro which bobbed as her head fell in a deep bow to suck in a deep breath.

“What the f*ck…” she whispered to herself in a mix of awe, anger, and relief as she forced herself to get up and head to the other car, pulling out her gun, “Move, b***h” she spat as she aimed it to the driver who only complied, something in Inka compelled her to see this through.

Valentin opened the door of the other car on the driver’s seat and grabbed the collar of the man with one hand, pulling his gun out with the other, he aimed the gun at the man in the passenger seat and gestured for him to move backseat, and the driver to move on the passenger seat after that was arranged he sat on the driver’s seat once again and revved the engine.

He then drove past his car that blocked the road, smashing it out of the way, and just like that, once again, discarding one of his family’s incognito cars. The car switching didn’t last long because they were able to leave the scene before the sirens rang in the distance. The police would be in charge of helping Niall, who's silently, still, taped up in the backseat.

The car ride was silent and awkward. He knows who they are and they know who he is, not personally, but they know why they’re in this situation and it’s building up a thick tension when no one acknowledges it,

“Who among you is Jacob?” Valentin then announced, both men exchanged glances before gulping and signaling each other in an attempt to conspire behind Valentin’s back. It would be impossible for them to be unarmed when they work with weapons, after all.

But before the man in the backseat could draw his gun Valentin made the reminder that he’s already holding one by shooting the man beside him on the thigh making him let out a blood-curdling scream, his back arching forward as he hissed, his hands trembling as he attempted to put pressure on the wound while Valentin effortlessly pressed the nuzzle to the side of the man’s head once again, his index finger already at rest on the trigger,

“Who’s Jacob?” Valentin repeated, his patience wearing thinner.

The man beside him already sweating bullets, taking in deep breaths while the man in the backseat seem to stutter as he spoke “I-I am,”, Valentin looked at him through the rearview mirror and smiled to himself,

“Niall sends his regards,” Valentin said, and that sent a chill down both of these men’s spines as they shut their eyes tight. Jacob despite having a tight grip on his gun couldn’t manage to raise it to Valentin’s head or even just his back, who knows what he’ll do, Valentin’s little number with the cars earlier made it hard for Jacob to gauge just how far this man will go.

“Is… is he dead?” the other one asked.

“What do you think?” Valentin asked back, he would make sure to rattle their spirit to instill a cooperative and obedient mindset, he needs to know everything Jacob knows above anything else, he was lucky enough to have Jacob in the same vehicle but it wouldn’t have mattered either way since he’ll be entering the building and meeting the buyers himself. He’s already come this far. He’ll push his luck further.

He glanced at the rearview mirror again to make sure Inka was following behind him, making a mental reminder to treat her kindly after this because just now did her words earlier slowly sunk in his head, albeit not sure if what he heard is what she actually said, he’d make sure they’d have that conversation again.

“Listen, Jacob,” he began, “you’ll go through with the deal, like usual, and tell them that I and the woman I was with are new additions to the team, like security, and none of you will say a f*cking word about this,” he finished, looking at both of them to make sure they know his sincerity.

“Call your friends on the other car and tell them exactly what to do,” he added, Jacob nodded and pulled out his phone and Valentin listened intently if even a word was out of place. The phone call was over, which meant that Inka also did well in subduing the people in the other car.

Inka, without question, exudes such an intimidating aura after all. Her body is proportional but in a manner where it’s evident that she’s someone able-bodied, her figure was toned with nicely cut and firm muscles, her torso was wide and she didn’t have much of… a bosom, but what she lacked in what is conventionally attractive on a woman, she makes up with qualities that put her at the top in rankings back when she was still a part of the organization where she met Art first.

She’s been a ‘fielder’, her body was fit, strong, and performed with excellence even against the males in the organization, she’s got a good grip on things regarding that line of work she began to think that’s the only thing she could do well and never thought of getting out.

Until she got her heart broken for the first time after the man she loved was killed by the same people in the line of work she loved and excelled in so much.

And love… Love makes you do and think foolish things, in her instance, her grief for him made her think she’s no better than those who killed her man, she’s as guilty as they are, and it drove her to a spiral of regret, remorse, and self-loathing. One so intense she thought of ending her own to be with him once again and apologize to him.

Apart from being excommunicated from being AWOL from the organization, she lived a mediocre lifestyle opposite to her glorious standing back when she was an asset. It was Art who pulled her out of that pathetic state by showing her she’s not the killer she thought she was, that she was able to do things apart from doing what she used to do and also be exceptional at it.

It was the mere rambling of a youngling, is what Inka thought. After all, she’s 12 years older than Art, but it moved her, albeit an inch at first. That gesture was what pushed her to try something new. She knows Art did that to make things work in her favor, that’s not unbeknownst to Inka, but Art’s youthful spunk, and shamelessness, are what made her take a step away from the spiral she’s been threading.

She recognized it when she had that feeling once again, with Valentin… the same spunk, the disregard for consequences, and the thrill of life itself.

‘Although I would have f*cking died earlier this man acts like he has nine lives,’ Inka thought as she glared at the car right in front of her, still going through whatever Valentin has up his sleeve, with a gun in her hand she watched closely as one of the men in the car answered a call.

Their spirits crumbled even after the phone call that Inka was almost sure it was Valentin on the other line.

The said man, unaware of the many varied perceptions of him, merely drove to their target place and watched how the gates of the Mariella labs opened for him. Not technically, but it’s a rather subtle achievement. He drove in and a wave between Jacob and the guard on the post further welcomed both cars in.

Driving slowly further to the back he saw the ‘back door’ perhaps on the laboratory blocked by three figures, there he is, the esteemed bachelor and woman in a military uniform, and a man with an unsettling choice of style for a mustache was present and talking amongst themselves like the prophetical fulfillment of Niall words.

“You’ll stay inside the car,” Valentin whispered to the injured man.

Who only gulped and nodded in response, trying his best to put pressure on his bleeding thigh, making mental prayers begging that he’d survive this shot.

Once he stopped the car in front of the three not-so-mysterious characters, he threw a stern look to remind these men what was happening; they got off the car and seem to do just as they will, removing the cover on the trunk and pulling out crates of Javier’s products.

The men on the other car did the same and Inka only dismounted the car the moment Valentin did so, they shared a glanced and Valentin caught an undiscernible look on Inka that he chose to ignore in the meantime to not raise suspicion, they’re already present as fresh and unfamiliar faces, it would be strictly unwise to put more tension on their current position.

“There’s new faces Mr. Abbot,” the mustache-man spoke, giving Inka and Valentin a blatant stare, Jacob nodded to him,

“Yes sir, we needed an extra hand for security… I just lost one of my men, and just on the way here, we were in a confrontation, one got injured, I wouldn’t want it to happen again,” he replied while roaming his eyes between his colleagues before landing them on Valentin who only sent daggers back.

“Oh, is that so, my condolences Mr. Abbot, you should give the deceased’s family a part of today’s sales,” he said like a benevolent king.

“Nah, give them something else entirely, it’s probably our fault he died anyways,” Pierre suggested, pulling something out of his own pocket, a thick wallet that he procured a wad of cash from, the general only chuckled at his charitable gesture before inspecting the products for tonight.

Inka subtly approached Valentin and gestured for him to create some distance from Pierre and his company, “That’s Montreal and general McGyle, how the f*ck did you even stage this?” she whispered to Valentin

who fought hard to not let a smile crack on his face when the puzzles finally fitted in his head.

“I didn’t…" he said back to Inka's adamant horror, "where’s Art?” he followed in a whisper, now understanding the sentiment of speaking in hushed voices, while their common targets were conversing amongst themselves,

“She’s… inside,” Inka replied, a hint of hesitation leaking as she did,

Valentin froze and whipped his head to Inka, “…How the hell did she get inside?”

“I told you, her brother sent her a letter,”

“And what if it was a trap?”

“It’s not but if it was…then we’re f****d,”

“When did she go in?”

“Earlier today, and the thing is… she’s supposed to be out now, there’s just one problem,”

“What?”

Inka paused to look at him, exhaling as she gestured to the people in front of them, “We’re blocking the exit, we didn’t know something like this would happen,” she hissed, throwing a look at Valentin who clenched his fist.

It's a foreign thing for him to feel anxious or feel cornered, yet that is exactly how he felt when he realized that this could’ve just compromised Arthur’s situation. General McGyle glanced at the two unfamiliar faces. Suspicious is the least of words she’d associate them with, more than that, they appear…threatening.

“Is it okay for the guards to be far away?” she announced, catching the said people’s attention,

“It’s better for us to survey the surroundings, ma’am” Valentin lied,

“I suppose,” the general acknowledged that much, but until how long can they keep this up, what will come first? Arthur out of those doors or the conclusion of tonight’s transaction.

Jacob glanced at Valentin who remained giving him a stern look but now realizing that they’ve outnumbered the odds on a 2 against 4, Jacob knows his colleagues own have a gun in their possession, counting on the general who’ll probably help if things got messy.

And with the unprecedented surge of confidence, Jacob tightened his grip on the gun stuffed in his pant and shakily aimed it at Valentin, something he failed to do earlier. This alarmed the others but his partners in crime were quick to follow what he did and the general, as expected, did not hesitate to aim her gun as well. Pierre stepped back once, confused at their sudden predicament.

Valentin, in his terms, didn’t give two f***s and quickly drew his guns too, he’s left-handed so he has the stronger caliber on that hand and the 45 on his right hand. Inka who also had two Glocks on both hands had it aimed and ready, the standoff was quite risky even for the general because Valentin made sure the most blood to be shed will be Mr. Montreal’s as he aimed his Smith & Wesson directly at the man’s head.

A brief pull of the trigger would blow his whole head off into a pulp and despite her underlying annoyance for the said man, she couldn’t let that happen, moreover, this is a 4 on 4 gun confrontation and she also has a nuzzle aimed at her.

“Hold your fire!” She announced to the other men, like how she would bark an order to her soldiers, she can’t risk Montreal’s life, “who are you?” the general asked, uncertain if she was more impressed at this little stunt or regretful that she let it come this far.

“I’m Nuña and this is Yabiznis,” Valentin replied, still having the habit of not taking threats against his life seriously,

“That’s f*****g childish,” Pierre said as he cowered behind Mr. Montreal,

“Silence you balding b*tch, I could pop your brains out,” was Inka’s input, making Pierre flinch and frown at her but do nothing else. Valentin was impressed.

“General…” Mr. Montreal seemed to plead with her as he placed a hand on his racing heart, the woman clenched her jaw, ticking her head in an attempt to shake some brain cells in her head to help her in this situation but to no avail.

Valentin gulped as he glanced at the door, somehow wishing that Art wouldn’t get out at that moment, but his luck was dried up because seconds after that, the door opened revealing a middle-aged-looking man carrying another body on his shoulder.

“Sh*t—” Inka hissed, which told Valentin that this man… is none other than Art. He supposed a rescue operation went well, at least something went successfully, despite the consecutive chaos that transpired tonight.

Arthur had a stressful enough day, since the beginning, her movements were restricted by the clothes and disguise she was wearing, she had to stuff her brother’s unconscious body in a cart that he had to drag and hide in different places and spots throughout the lab to not complicate things and gather information which was instructed to her by her now unconscious brother.

She had many questions that plagued her head during this whole ordeal, but she trusted him, and she trusted her instinct and made sure her next priority was to leave the premises of this lab and get to safety.

So one can only imagine her stress and shock once she walked in on the ongoing standoff, her right shoulder getting sore as she carried Madeline’s limp body but she’s still quick enough to draw her own gun and pressed it at Montreal’s head, she was so close to him that she could hear his hitched breathing.

General McGyle, close to her breaking point switched her aim from Valentin to Arthur, “Who the f**k is this one, now? Who’s that on your shoulder?” she yelled to Arthur, who roamed her eyes on the people in the present situation, feeling every possible emotion mixed with confusion once her gaze landed on Valentin.

‘What the hell… why is he… how did this… what?’ Arthur thought, pressing her gun harder against Montreal’s back,

“I’m here to kill Montreal,” Arthur bluffed, understanding that their biggest leverage right now would be this man, “If anyone tries s**t, I’ll make a f*****g puree out of his brains,” she announced shoving the gun harder against Montreal’s back making his march forward as she constantly pushed him with the nuzzle of the gun,

“Oh my God…General…” Montreal whimpered, edging General McGyle to desperation, but she can’t do anything. They’re outnumbered now, with two guns pointed at the man whose life she can’t gamble. These people know what they’re doing, and they’re doing it well.

“Walk towards that car,” Arthur whispered to Montreal making him march to the car that Inka drove, the car that didn’t have an injured man in, and turned so she can open the door to the backseat and somewhat shove her brother inside.

Getting a gist of the plan, Inka and Valentin slowly threaded towards the car, assuming their positions, Inka has one gun pointed at Pierre still, while another is pointed at Jacob. Valentin, realizing that he

promised Niall he’ll be getting rid of his colleagues. In a ballsy move rapidly shot the two others, which brings it down to the man he injured earlier and Jacob who was about to pull the trigger himself until Inka beat him into it.

The general couldn’t do anything since now the odds worked further against her, she could’ve used the extra men but they were compromised from the start, she made a mental note to make sure Montreal and Pierre are both armed at all times, that is, if they survive tonight.

Now it’s clear who’s on the upper hand. Inka’s guns were pointed at Pierre and the general respectively while Arthur’s gun aimed still at Montreal, now with only McGyle remaining armed. Valentin assumed his spot at the driver’s seat and revved the engine, rolling down all the windows. Inka sat on the passenger seat, now holstering one of her guns while the other remained pointed to the general.

Arthur also sat in the backseat, keeping the door open and smiling at the general, “Our win, general,” she announced as she shot Montreal on the thigh, his scream was enough to disorient the desperate McGyle as Valentin floored the gas pedal speeding away from the scene so fast that Arthur’s open door closed with the sudden acceleration.

Gunshots sounded in the distance and the gates that didn’t open fast enough were wrecked open as their car now sped on the highway. Valentin knew where they were going as he sped through the road, he knew they would be chasing after them, “Arthur, carry your brother,” he instructed her and despite the dire situation, she concentrated hard to keep her head present and did as she was told.

She could only trust him at this point. Valentin created some distance between them and their possible pursuer before he abruptly stopped the car once again in the middle of the road that it caused a few minor collisions.

“Get out! Get out!” he yelled but Inka and Arthur didn’t need to be told twice as they follow Valentin go to another car, pulling the poor uninvolved random driver out and taking his spot, Inka and Arthur settling in just as him before he drove away again.

Leaving the car there and causing that blockage would be enough to hold their pursuers off. He needs to go to the safest place they could right now.

He didn’t drive too fast to not attract any attention on them and it’s not like the pursuers would know that they changed cars. More than the engine, it was Valentin’s head that was running a hundred miles per hour, opening up escape options for them one after the other. Soon enough he arrived at his destination: Rodrigo’s clinic.

This whole facility was already closed so the weak light of the streetlights wasn’t enough to illuminate their arrival, he got off and knocked on the glass doors covered by binds, a coded beat that he hoped Rodrigo would hear, and he did, soon enough the doctor’s footsteps sounded and the door opened.

“Valya, what are you—”

“Everyone get in,” Valentin ordered, walking in and cutting Rodrigo off on whatever he was about to say. Inka and Arthur, with Madeline still on her shoulder, followed suit. Confused as he was, Rodrigo immediately locked the door after somewhat welcoming these people in.

With that, they were safe for the night.